Whabi Mohammad (also spelled Wahbi Mohammed) is a Somali-born individual associated with the 21 July 2005 London attempted bombings. He was reported to be the "fifth bomber" wanted in connection with the failed attacks and was arrested on or before 28 July 2005. He is the brother of Ramzi Mohammed, one of the four convicted bombers who attempted to detonate devices on London's transport network on 21 July 2005.
Background and Arrest
Whabi Mohammad was born around 1983 and was approximately 22 years old at the time of the 2005 attacks. He was arrested in connection with the 21 July 2005 attempted bombings, which were a follow-up to the 7 July 2005 London bombings that killed 52 people. The attempted attacks involved four bombers who tried to detonate devices on London Underground trains at Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street, and Oval stations, and on a bus in Haggerston. A fifth device was found abandoned in Little Wormwood Scrubs park, leading to speculation about a fifth bomber.
According to reporting from The Times, Scotland Yard believed it had arrested the "mystery fifth man," alleged to be Whabi Mohammad, the brother of Ramzi Mohammad, who was held in connection with the failed bomb at Oval station. Mohammad was charged with assisting a person or persons in evading arrest.
Trial and Conviction
In February 2008, Whabi Mohammad stood trial at Kingston Crown Court alongside four other men accused of helping the 21 July bombers evade capture. The court heard that Mohammad was present at his brother's flat in Dalgarno Gardens, North Kensington, on the morning of 21 July 2005 as the bombers made their final preparations. He took away a video camera used to record suicide messages and a suicide note intended for his brother's family.
Prosecutors stated that Mohammad assisted his brother Ramzi by bringing him food, a new mobile phone, a SIM card, and a charger while Ramzi was in hiding with Muktar Ibrahim at Dalgarno Gardens. Mohammad also acted as a "go-between," making arrangements for the bombers while they were in hiding.
Mohammad was convicted of failing to disclose information about terrorism and assisting an offender, and was also convicted of having prior knowledge of the plot to bomb the London transport network. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison, the longest sentence of the five men convicted in that trial. Judge Paul Worsley QC stated that the men had shown no remorse and that the sentences available to the court were "woefully inadequate to reflect the enormity" of the case.
Later Developments
According to reporting from The Mail on Sunday and other sources, Mohammad was released on bail in 2013. His lawyers subsequently used European human rights laws to resist his deportation from the United Kingdom. Reports indicate that he is a Somali immigrant who has remained in the UK despite his conviction.
References
- BBC News, "Five jailed for helping 21/7 plot," 4 February 2008.
- The Guardian, "Five men jailed for helping 21/7 London bombers," 4 February 2008.
- Wikipedia, "21 July 2005 London attempted bombings."
- Wikipedia, "Ramzi Mohammed."
- The Times, "Captured all five 21/7 bomb suspects."
